LSU Announces 'Foundation Era' All-Alex Box Team

BATON ROUGE -- LSU announced on Monday its All-Alex Box Stadium “Foundation Era” Team, an all-star squad of former student-athletes that played for the Tigers from 1938-83.

The 29-member team was selected by a panel of media and former LSU players and coaches. The Foundation Era encompasses the opening of Alex Box Stadium in 1938 through 1983, the year prior to Skip Bertman’s appointment as the Tigers’ head coach.

Later this week, LSU fans will be invited to vote online to select the members of the All-Alex Box Stadium “Omaha Era” Team. The Omaha Era team will include players that performed for the Tigers from 1984 – Bertman’s first season – to the present.

Voting for the Omaha Era team will continue through early May. The results will be announced prior to LSU’s May 9-11 SEC series versus Mississippi State.

The selection of the teams coincides with the commemoration of LSU’s final season in 70-year-old Alex Box Stadium. The New Alex Box Stadium, now under construction, will open in February 2009.

Following are the members of LSU’s Foundation Era team. The squad includes 11 pitchers, nine infielders, five outfielders and four catchers:

Bruce Baudier, 1966-67 -- Recorded the only perfect game in LSU history (vs. Alabama on May 5, 1967); holds LSU career ERA record (1.70); Named All-SEC Western Division in 1966. drafted by Washington Senators and New York Yankees.

Walker Cress, 1938-39 -- A founding member of the Baton Rouge Kids Clinic; played for the Cincinnati Reds; baseball career interrupted by World War II; acknowledged LSU best pitcher in the 1930s.; passed away on April 21, 1996 in Baton Rouge.

Richard “Dick” Hicks, 1967-68 – Fired a one-hit game against Nicholls State on April 11, 1968); LSU ranked among nation’s leaders in 1967 & 1968 seasons with Bruce Baudier and Hicks on the mound; Hicks led LSU in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched (1968); drafted by Washington Senators and Houston Astros.

Dave Madison, 1941-43 -- Career interrupted by World War II, signed by the New York Yankees, played most of Major League career with St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers; the righthander was regarded as one of the first “reliever-closers” in the big leagues; passed away on Dec. 8, 1985 in Macon, Miss.

Benny McArdle, 1951-53 -- Two-sport athlete; won 7 games in 1952 season; led or tied for team lead in wins all three varsity seasons; led LSU in ERA and strikeouts in 1951 & 1952 seasons and was ERA leader in 1953 during seasons when LSU played between 15-20 games; named All-SEC in 1952.

Pat Moock, 1972-75 – Named All-SEC in 1973 and 1975: won LSU’s first game in NCAA Regional on May 23, 1975 over Murray State in Starkville, Miss.; holds LSU all-time record for complete games (27); drafted by the Texas Rangers.

Cal Santarelli, 1982-83 – Fired a two-hit game versus Northeast Louisiana on April 27, 1983); All-SEC & All-SEC Western Division in 1983; led LSU with 2.84 ERA and had 91 strikeouts in 82 innings in 1983; Third-team All-America in 1983; drafted by the Cleveland Indians.

Allen Smith, 1960-62 – Named All-SEC in 1961 and 1962); LSU’s first-ever All-America (1961); Named All-SEC Western Division (1961, 1962); LSU’s first single-season 10-game winner (1961);won 22 games over three seasons; had 1.34 and 1.93 ERAs in 1961 and 1962; struck out 71 in 88 innings in 1961; led teams in innings pitched each of his three seasons.

Paul Stefan, 1975-76 – Named All-SEC (1976); fired a one-hit game against Alabama on April 12, 1976; tied for LSU single-season complete games record with 10 in 1976; was ace reliever on LSU’s 1975 SEC Championship team, then was a 10-game winner as starter in 1976; drafted by the Chicago White Sox.

Randy Wiles, 1970-73 -- LSU all-time leader in shutouts (7); Tied with Ben McDonald and Paul Stefan for most shutouts (3) in a season; All-SEC (1972); fired a no-hit game versus Rice on March 3, 1972); fired a one-hit game versus Mississippi State on April 13, 1973); also recorded three two-hit games during his LSU career (1970, 1972, 1973); Played for the Chicago White Sox after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.

CATCHERS

Mark Cooper, 1983-84 – Coaches and teammates listed him as the “best catcher to play at LSU”; 1983 and 1984 first-team All-SEC; first LSU player to hit 10 home runs in a single season (1983); led 1983 team with 46 RBI; First player in LSU history to hit three home runs in a single game – hit launched three HRs vs. Ole Miss on April 9, 1983; Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Duane Dewey, 1979 -- Led LSU in hits (64) and at-bats in his only season with the Tigers; All SEC Western Division (1979); Team leader for LSU’s first team in four-team SEC Tournament; First-round draft pick by Kansas City Royals.

Tom Giles, 1967-68 -- Led LSU with three triples (a rare feat for a catcher), three home runs, 23 RBI and .329 batting average in 1967; Named All-SEC (1967).

Jerry Marchand, 1952-53 -- Two-time All-SEC (1952, 1953);Team leader in several offensive categories in both 1952 and 1953; also played football for the Tigers.

INFIELDERS

Joe Bill Adcock, 1947 -- Among LSU’s most heralded baseball players; played 17 seasons with Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves, Cleveland Indians and California Angels; Indians manager in 1967; once held Major League record for total bases in a game (18 -- four homers, one double); member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Alvin Dark, 1943 – a Major League Baseball legend; career interrupted by World War II; played 14 years in Major Leagues with Boston and Milwaukee Braves, New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and managed or coached from 1961 through 1977 for five teams; member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Gerald Keigley, 1971-73 – Baseball and football star at LSU; shortstop-third baseman and wide receiver; led LSU in one or more seasons in at-bats, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI and batting average; All-SEC (1973).

Mike Miley, 1972-74 -- Shortstop considered by many as LSU’s best-ever baseball player; switch hitter who once hit homers from both sides of the plate in the same game; first-team All-America (1974); two-sport athlete who was also LSU’s starting quarterback in 1973; two-time All SEC West; All-SEC (1972); led LSU in runs (three seasons), hits, doubles and triples (two seasons) and batting average, home runs and RBI (one season) while participating in spring football workouts; drafted in first round in 1974 by California Angels.

Joe Moock, 1964-65 -- LSU’s first-ever drafted player, he was selected in the third round of the 1965 draft by the New York Mets; the older brother of pitcher Pat Moock and former LSU infielder Mike; father Joe Sr. played three seasons at LSU in early 1940s; drafted as third baseman after playing shortstop at LSU; led 1964 team in hits and homers and 1965 team in RBI.

Harry Morel, 1963-65 -- All SEC West (1964); led 1965 team in at bats, hits, doubles, triples and batting average.

Chip Moses, 1980-81 -- All-SEC second baseman; led LSU in one or both seasons in at bats, runs, hits (set school record with 70 hits in 1981), triples (led SEC with five in 1981), stolen bases and batting average.

Connie Ryan, 1941 -- Played 13 seasons in Major Leagues with New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies; he was then a Major League coach for 20 years; member of the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame; member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

OUTFIELDERS

Gene Achord, 1962-64 -- All-SEC (1963); led LSU in one or more seasons in runs, doubles, triples, home runs and RBI; was first player in LSU history to hit five homers in a season (1962).

Craig Burns, 1969-71 -- All-SEC (1971); prototype centerfielder who combined speed and power; led LSU in one or more seasons in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI and stolen bases; two-sport letterman, as he was the starting safety and punt returner for the LSU football squad; first player in LSU history with more than 40 hits in a single season (1971).

Bob Leake, 1966-68 -- All-SEC (1968); LSU leader in hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and batting average in one or more of his three seasons; top utility man who could play left side of infield and had strong enough arm to play right field.

Roger Sigler, 1954-57 -- Four-year letterman who pitched and played outfield; led LSU in one or more seasons in hits, triples, home runs, RBI, batting average and stolen bases; led LSU in batting average three consecutive seasons; led 1956 team in ERA (1.74) and paced the ’56 and ’57 teams in strikeouts; two-sport letterman who led the LSU basketball team in scoring all three varsity seasons (1955-57).

Larry Wright, 1975-78 -- Freshman who filled speed role on 1975 SEC Championship team; led SEC in stolen bases (25) in 1975; led LSU in stolen bases (67 in four seasons) all four years; also team leader one or more seasons in at-bats, runs, hits and doubles.